Dear Crispin,
I have several tests I am working on.
1) Water retention curves in biochar added to clay and sand at 1/3 bar,
1 bar and 5 bars
2) compressibility tests using my spring tester I use for adobe bricks.
Thinking it will make clay easier to break apart. The clay I am using
has retained shape at maximum compression (1000 lbs) so is a good
sample. Not suitable for adobe bricks due to its shrinkage properties.
But I would not want to farm it as-is.
3) Shrinkage properties (as mentioned).
And preliminary tests do indicate biochar will increase water
availability as you mention. Still gathering data.
Genius today, idiot yesterday and I wonder what I will be tomorrow.
Frank
Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
Dear Frank
You are a genius.
Thanks for providing an interesting mechanical explanation for a reason char
may increase production. Char holds a huge amount of moisture. So will a
sponge but it is mechanically weak. Char is not.
So the char can hold water and reduce shrinkage be feeding that water into
the surrounding soil preventing the breakage of micro roots and promoting
growth. There are other things that may also do this - like porous clay and
possibly some types of garbage.
Regards
Crispin
--
Frank Shields
Soil Control Lab
42 Hangar way
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-5422 tel
(831) 724-3188 fax
[email protected]
www.compostlab.com
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